"We showed great character to do that in the previous home game and were unfortunate not to get the result against Southampton. But we bounced back against Derby and Stoke.

"This season has been difficult but most of us have shown great character to get through the tough stages and as long as we've got the fans behind us, we'll get through the storm.

"We attacked and defended really well against Stoke, and to get the early goal killed the game off.

"We'd gone a long time without scoring in the first half here, so to get the first goal was great. The last one was against Wolfsburg, a long time ago.

"So the goal definitely settled the nerves, settled the crowd and allowed us to push on for more goals."

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Lingard believes the Stoke victory can allow United to relax and play with freedom when they visit Chelsea on Sunday - as they bid to haul back the five-point deficit which separates them from Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for Champions League football.

He said: "We've got more freedom and we've got a lot of energy in the team. To entertain the crowd we have to have, but this win is a weight off our shoulders and we can just play football now.

"It's massive, it takes pressure off the players, manager and fans, it settles our nerves and means we can concentrate on getting three points in the next match.

"With the results, it's not been the manager's fault, we've been on the pitch playing. Against Stoke we showed what we are capable of.

Opener: Lingard set the ball rolling against Stoke (Image: Reuters)

"We've seen other sides drop points and it shows again anything can happen in this league."

Lingard praised 19-year-old left-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, whose cross set up his opener, and he believes that their progress shows United still have a productive youth system - despite fears over the club's academy.

He said: "Cameron's come on leaps and bounds from when I knew him in the Under-18s. He's a relaxed and composed lad, he's got a great cross in him and he gets forward a lot.

"His defending is ten out of ten as well, so he's doing very well.

"The manager likes youth and when we've had a chance we've taken it, so I don't see why the next batch can't come through and do the same."